A review of studies on central receiver solar thermal power plants Omar Behar a,n , Abdallah Khellaf b , Kamal Mohammedi a a L.E.M.I Laboratory, University of M’hamed Bougara, UMBB, Boumerdes, Algeria b Centre de De´veloppement des Energies Renouvelables, CDER, Bouzareah, Algeria article info Article history: Received 16 September 2012 Received in revised form 31 January 2013 Accepted 3 February 2013 Available online 19 March 2013 Keywords: Central receiver system Heliostat field Solar receivers Power conversion system Concentrating solar power abstract The use of central receiver system (CRS) for electricity production promises to be one of the most viable options to replace fossil fuel power plants. Indeed, research and development activities on its basic subsystems have been booming rapidly since 1980s. This paper reviews the most important studies on the major components of central receiver solar thermal power plants including the heliostat field, the solar receiver and the power conversion system. After an overview of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology, current status and applications of the CRSs are highlighted. Next, a detailed literature survey of existing design comprising optical, thermal and thermodynamic analysis, and techniques used to assess components have been arranged. This is followed by experimental investigations in which design concepts are established. The last section contains recent subsequent improvement of such key components as heliostat, receiver and hybrid solar gas turbine that are boosting in many R&D activities merging international collaboration during the past 30 years. & 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Contents 1. Inroduction: Why concentrating solar power (CSP)? ....................................................................... 13 2. Background ....................................................................................................... 14 2.1. Concentrating solar power (CSP): Historic and current status .......................................................... 14 2.1.1. Historic .............................................................................................. 14 2.1.2. Basic concept and current status .......................................................................... 15 2.1.3. Factors boosting CSP technology .......................................................................... 16 2.2. Central receiver system (CRS): Current status and applications ........................................................ 16 2.2.1. Basic concept ......................................................................................... 16 2.2.2. Central receiver solar thermal pilot plants .................................................................. 17 2.2.3. Central receiver solar thermal power plants in operation [32,59,77–80] .......................................... 17 2.2.4. Central receiver solar thermal power plants under construction [32,78–80] ....................................... 18 2.2.5. Central receiver solar thermal power plants in the planning [32,78–80,84] ........................................ 18 2.3. Recent R&D activities in central receiver technology ................................................................. 18 3. Heliostat field...................................................................................................... 21 3.1. Heliostat and layout ........................................................................................... 21 3.1.1. Basic concept ......................................................................................... 21 3.1.2. Design ............................................................................................... 21 3.1.3. Experiment ........................................................................................... 23 3.1.4. Enhancement ......................................................................................... 24 3.2. Tracking and control system .................................................................................... 25 3.2.1. Basic concept ......................................................................................... 25 3.2.2. Design ............................................................................................... 25 3.2.3. Experiment ........................................................................................... 25 3.2.4. Enhancement ......................................................................................... 25 4. Solar receiver ...................................................................................................... 26 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/rser Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 1364-0321/$ - see front matter & 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.02.017 n Corresponding author. Tel.: þ213 555 82 71 29. E-mail addresses: beharomar@yahoo.fr, beharomar@gmail.com (O. Behar). Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 23 (2013) 12–39